Owner of seven failed Xbox 360s speaks out

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 22nd 2007 at 8:29PM }

Our thoughts that anecdotal evidence would pile up publicly about the failure rate of the Xbox 360 took less time than we imagined. Dean Takahashi of the Mercury News wrote a piece this morning about a loyal Xbox 360 fanboy who has given up on the system after seven units "croaked" on him. Rob Cassima, 42, who attended the Zero Hour Xbox 360 launch event in the Mojave Desert said, "All of the four that we got at Zero Hour croaked on us.''

Takahashi met Cassima and his wife at the event a year and a half ago. After Cassima contacted Takahashi about his plight, the journalist got him in contact directly with Peter Moore ... that must be nice. An Xbox 360 representative has since contacted Cassima to offer him a brand new unit. Cassima says, "A new 360 was all I really wanted in the first place, but after two failed attempts dealing with Microsoft's overseas call centers, I am very annoyed that it took an e-mail directly to P. Moore to get results ... I am just so gun-shy about the reliability issue ... I still feel like a chump."

Tina Conley, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, told Takahashi the failure rates are "within the consumer electronics industry average." Microsoft refused to give exact failure rates. Yeah, that's not going to cut it much longer if these stories of failure continue with less than two degrees of separation between people. Purchasing extended warranties should not be the answer to defective production.

See also:
Ring of Death: An Xbox 360 story -- Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
BBC show tackles 'clapped-out old banger' Xbox 360

Tags: anecdotal, evidence, fantasy, microsoft, reality, red ring of death, xbox 360, Xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

zakchase @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:34PM

My 360 has never so much as even crashed, but the one-year warranty just expired and now I'm nervous that I'll be death-ringed -- 13 months after I bought the thing.

Curry @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:35PM

Nice score. I'm at number 4 right now myself, and thanks to a mistake over at MS I've already got number 5 ready to take over when #4 kicks the bucket ;)

MaX PL and the 360 r4pe Tr4iN @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:37PM

uh, my xbox and the ones of the six other people that went to zero hour with me still work. those plus the one i bought for my brother at zero hour all work.

so sucks for this stupid old guy who apparently is either BSn' or is just doing something stupid causing all of them to break.

of all the 20+ people i know with xbox 360s bought anywhere from november 16th, 6 days before launch, til now, not one of them has had one break.

Triforceowner @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:37PM

If you purchase 4 units at once, they are probably either all duds or all clean with what happened at the launch. Microsoft stated that they sent out a faulty shipment at launch, and that is why they let the warranty go an "extra" nine months.

michael h. @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:42PM

i know this doesn't seem plausible but i have a friend who has a launch day 360 and it has yet to have a ring of death or break. i promise i'm not lying.

baldr83 @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:43PM

Yea, like what Triforceowner said. The early produced consoles are known to have problems. I know a lot of people that got 360s and none of them have had problems yet. I have no reason to believe the 360 fails more than any other electronic device, and I think this is just a case of the internet magnifying the voice of a few.

JJ @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:44PM

Usually its sony with the hardware problems hence all the "faulty" PS2 stories, but that may also have to do with the volume as well.

But oddly enough, i've never had ANY problems with Sony or Nintendo hardware, yet I've always had at least 1 problem with MS hardware so far. My original xbox died on me halfway through playing KOTOR... which sucked cuz i was 27 hours in, so i had to start over on my second xbox. But that was 2 years in.

My 360 though failed about a month ago (it was a launch system) and had to be repaired but i've already noticed it runs a bit slower and is slower to load things, so i'm a bit worried.

None the less, i couldnt live wihtout my 360.. or any of my consoles for that matter.

Vrian Sinth @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:45PM

Sounds to me like somebody doesn't know how to operate electronics. What is he doing, kicking the thing?

I have had my Xbox since day one and haven't seen as much as a glitch. It is running strong without a single issue.

BIGGEN @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:49PM

god, hear we go

Gausser @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:52PM

@Max Pl
You can say that you and all the people you know have not had any issues with the 360, but that doesn't matter. It's a ludicrous statement. All of the people you know are a miniscule number of the all the 360 owners. People are having issues with these systems. That's undeniable. Microsoft needs to make a better quality product. Period.

Hello @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:57PM

7? He must be doing something wrong.

Launch 360 here, haven't had any problems.

PeteL @ Feb 22nd 2007 8:58PM

Over 1/4 of the guys on my live friends list have had a 360 break down, some multiple times.

BIGGEN @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:00PM

@12 just so you know, the people having problems is a miniscule number compared to all 360 owners. all depends on how you want to spin it brother

REUYL @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:02PM

I won't deny that launch 360's have/had plenty of problems, but what the crud is this n00b doing that bricked seven 360's? Does he leave his power brick on a shag carpet, circa 1968?

SmilingAssassin @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:03PM

I was at zero hour and I am now watiting for my console to be repaired for the second time. I do love the 360 but this is getting a little tiresome. The most annoying part about it is when they say the turnaround is 48 hours and you call back and they say that is 48 hours considering 8 hour work days. That is 6 days to repair it for any morons out there.

Steve @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:03PM

Jeeze. I knew it wouldn't take long before people started blaming the user. [sarcasm]We all know it's impossible for a manufacture to screw up, and we all know Microsoft is known for making rock-solid reliable products.[/sarcasm]

How the hell can you "misuse" a video game console? As far as I'm concerned, as long as you aren't storing the device underwater or using it for target practice the damn thing ought to work PERIOD

Microsoft, in their typical halfassed style, f'd up the hardware behind the 360. If you don't want to accept that then get away from this thread and go outside and graze on the grass in your front yard.

zenprism @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:04PM

I got my first 360 at Zero Hour. Died on me 4 months later. They sent me a new unit. Died two months later. I'm now on my third, which is working fine (it's been awhile, so I'm hopeful).
I treat all my consoles like prized possessions ($400 possessions), so I know it's not what I'm doing that's causing the red rings.

I still love having a 360, no matter the problems I've had in the past. A quality system is worth the trouble, kinda like a girlfriend, but cheaper ;)

reppy @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:04PM

I've had several Xbox components crap out on me. So, I'm not surprised at all.

TheHostileDwarf @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:05PM

I call bullshit. 7 for 7? No way. And I say this as I am on my second console, not sure if the replacement was new or refurbished. If it was refurbished, it broke very quickly as I got it about 2 months after the manufacturing date. But 7 out of 7? Shenanigans.

Hikaru @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:08PM

To the guys saying that they don't have problems or their friends with the 360, well, you have good luck, but don't go and insult other people who had problems with their 360s and saying they don't know how to take care of it...I have 2 360s, one from launch and one from March 2006 and they work very good BTW.

And Gausser is right.

mike jones @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:13PM

Not surprised. Matt from IGN is on his Fifth. 5 % failure rate my ass MS

http://blogs.ign.com/Matt-IGN/p2

Well, I walked into EB today and had my broken Xbox 360 replaced. I'm on number five now and I have every reason to believe that this baby won't be lasting too long. Bearing that in mind, would anybody like to make some bets as to how she'll last? The person who comes the closest will earn themselves a free Wii game of their choice. Let the games begin.

On a side note, the fact that nearly every Xbox 360 is doomed to break at some point in time has taught me to appreciate the system while it is working. Tonight, as a finish up an hour or more of Lost Planet (if I can get that much out of this unit), I expect to take a deep breath and thank the heavens above for the glorious bounty of functioning hardware. Unlike Wii and PS3, which keep on going, you just never know with Microsoft's system. So my advice to everyone is to enjoy your blessed time with the console and never say anything hateful to it for every play session could be your last.

Matt Necklace @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:16PM

360 is a bomb nobody needs

The Man @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:16PM

I bought two 360 at launch and have had no problems at all. Also none of my friends have had issues. You dont know how many times I read sony fanboy posts that claim they have a defective 360 when deep down inside the wish they owned one. Sony= flogs

Matt Necklace @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:17PM

360 is crap time bomb do not buy this thing choose PS3

Tucker @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:19PM

WHAT are you people doing to your consoles and WHERE do you live? Good sweet jesus, how dirty are your power lines? Of the 10-15 people I know who have owned 360s from the first day, not a single one, including myself, have had the remotest of problems. How's that for "anecdotal evidence" and "degrees of separation?"

I'm sorry, I know it sucks for you guys with bricked consoles, but there is SOMETHING HAPPENING ON YOUR END if you're getting dead console after dead console. It's like statistically impossible. How is it that everyone I know has been humming along fine, yet YOU have problem after problem? Get your power company to come out and look at your line quality or something. Power quality here in the U.S. is notoriously bad.

Call me a fanboy if you want, but these stories always make me laugh. I really don't know what more to say - but I read these over and over and I scratch my head. If the failure rate was TRULY this high, and one in like four units was destined to fail, we'd be hearing a lot more than a some bitching on video game blogs.

LordMinogue @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:23PM

Let us use math to determine what the defect rate of Xbox 360s are.

Given - 10 million systems have been sold, with each replacement not being counted as a system

Given - The owner of 7 failed systems has done nothing malicious to the systems and is the only person to go through 7 breaks

For these statements to be true, a one in ten million chance must equal the seventh power of the defect rate expressed as a percent.

.: 1/10^7 = (defect)^7

Take the 7th root of both sides and presto:

1/10 = defect

Thus the Xbox 360 defect rate should be close to 10 percent.

mrlogical @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:24PM

What??? Seven failed 360s? I can believe that while mine has survived a solid 14 months or so without a problem, others have experienced legitimate problems, but 7??? This guy HAS to be bringing it into the shower with him or something. This doesn't make me think poorly of Microsoft, it makes me think this guy must be an idiot. (Besides, wouldn't you get fed up after about your 4th $400 purchase??)

Carlos @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:26PM

i want a 360 but i'm not buying one until i stop hearing about ring of deaths and the like. I hope they release a new quieter and more reliable one soon, then i'll most surely buy it. If they don't maybe i'll just wait for the ps3 to drop it's price to the 400 mark... like in 3 years haha

OTAM @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:27PM

Damn this bastard. I am on Xbox 360 number 7 too,I figured me constantly posting my story on various websites that someone would give me some internet time :(

I'd rather the first Xbox actually work instead of having an article on a website though,but it's too late for that.

MaX PL and the 360 r4pe Tr4iN @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:27PM

"Not surprised. Matt from IGN is on his Fifth. 5 % failure rate my ass MS

http://blogs.ign.com/Matt-IGN/p2"

Is that Nintendo fanboy Matt from IGN who is known for criticizing other companies and is likely BSn', or is it some other Matt?

mathminion @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:28PM

to think I almost broke down and bought a core to replace my 360 brick. but at this rate $600 for a PS3 seems reasonable.

evildoer @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:28PM

so the solution for Microsoft is to give a free 360 to those whose voices could be heard... and screw the average joe over.

;cough cough; cover up ;cough cough;

Hikaru @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:29PM

Have anyone read the article? He is supposedly a Xbox 360 fanboy and loves Microsoft, he is 42 also, I don't think he doesn't know how to take care of a console....

James @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:34PM

PS2 had a lot of complaints, but that was also with *way* more systems out there than MS's 10 million. Bottom line is that the Xbox 360 is failing way more than any $400 piece of electronics should. I think that 10% number sounds about right. 1 in 10 Xbox 360s fail. That's pathetic. Hardware-build-quality-wise, the 360 is proving to be the worst system ever. I wouldn't touch that thing until they Rev. B it.

cassingham @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:34PM

#4, #13, #16, #21-You can all blow it right out your magical asses. I KNOW what the truth is, because I am the guy in the story. These unit WERE ABSOLUTELY NOT abused, kicked, left in overheated conditions (exact opposite-nothin' above, 16-20" behind unit, 8" either side). These things honestly failed without unusual usage. And 5 consoles failed, but two of the refurbs (Numbers 4 and 7) that I received failed within 30 days of receiving them. That was my complaint-that refurb units were being shipped that were defective, and after 7 systems, they wouldn't send me a new unit-that's all I wanted.

Hikaru @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:42PM

errrrm, I don't know if you are the real cassingham but I was actually defending "cassingham" so don't know why you included me there....

Steve @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:43PM

26. Tucker wrote:

Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah!
==========================================

Here we go again with another Microsoft apologist blaming the user for misusing such an incredibly difficult device. Between his sheepish baah-ing he did say some interesting things.

First off, he says "WHAT are you people doing to your consoles". Well, if the employees at IGN have widespread 360 problems then how damn complicated is it to run this thing? Those people literally are professional video game playing professionals users and they have experienced widespread problems with that machine. Over the past year I've read numerous blogs, articles, and Mailbag commentary on their problems.

Second, you say "Power quality here in the U.S. is notoriously bad" which is a bit surprising. First off, this goes against your blame-the-user theme because you're going to great lengths to claim that defective products just don't occur. Second, if powerlines really were the problem then why aren't we seeing widespread reports of other electronic devices dying? Third, if the US has notoriously bad powerlines then a responsible manufacturer of electronic equipment would take that into account when designing their product.

The 360 is a POS. I want one by default. I own a Wii, but I don't like its last-gen graphics. I don't buy Sony products, so the xbox is my only other choice. The hell I'm going to buy one while the system maintains this reputation.

Personally I hope that all you people blaming the user see your xbox die a day after the warrenty expires.

DaStuph @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:46PM

A-freakin-men!

3-5% failure rate is a load of bullshit. I'm on my 4th 360 since launch and I KNOW how to take care of my gear. I've been a gamer since the early 80s and I've NEVER had so much trouble with a machine, let alone the customer lack-of-service in my entire life. The support is absolutely horrid.

I'm not 16 yrs old. I don't chuck my 360 in a backpack and tote it around to all my friends houses strapped to my bike. It has its place on my completely open and ventilated widescreen TV stand. Theres nothing around it to cramp its airflow and its in an area in my house thats under 70 degrees year around.

There is NO excuse for the shitty service and for any consumer to be on their fourth console, let alone this guy going through seven of them. I've gotten the runaround on everything from getting the unit replaced, taking six weeks and five phone calls to get codes to reassociate my arcade titles, and five weeks (four calls) to get my wireless headset replaced.

Unfreaking believable.

Tucker @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:46PM

Like I said there, assholes, have someone take a look at the noise on your line. Never said you were kicking your units, just said that the problem is ON YOUR END. Something is killing your units. Period. Seven in a row? It's laughable, my friends. Laughable. Take your statistics and shove them up your asses, that's a 100% failure rate.

skylimitz @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:47PM

The failure rate for the 360 is high..its more then just 5%..and to the people who said i have no problem with it and that their 20 friends isnt havin problems either..how do we know you have that many friends?lol how do we even know you are tellin the truth?..lol..microsoft admit havin defective console durin launch..why is the xbox fanboys tryin to defend it when microsoft admits to it already..lol..its just make them look very foolish..microsoft wont even disuss how high the failure rates there is..if microsoft fixed the problem how come we are still seein it right now..i would feel screwed if i gone through 7 xbox360s..microst release crapbox..it jus rushed sytem..

MrObjectional @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:49PM

I personally saw my friend's Xbox 360 freeze after 5 minutes of Gears of War on tuesday. After it froze, he rebooted, and the ring of death showed up. It's actually sorta funny because this guy is a total Microsoft fanatic (he bought two copies of Vista Ultimate Bill Gates signature Edition).

I think it's obvious this happens a good deal, but it's not going to influence whether I buy one or not. At least not until I personally witness another ring of death.

Barbie Fu @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:51PM

I feel for all ya whose 'boxes failed, i went through hell twice with sony, and lost all faith in their product. I got my 'box in early dec. '05, and had the rrod on three different occasions, two of them when the power supply got interrupted (my children bumped the case we used to hide the plugs with), and once when my house was like 120 degrees, i turned the unit off for a while, rebooted, and all still works fine........i pray, as my warranty expired last year................

Ghost @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:52PM

@ #36 the guys name is Cassima not cassingham....just throwing that out there

Eric @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:57PM

Geez, this is worse that NES blinking problems...

Hardcore @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:58PM

How is this even remotely surprising to anyone? I mean Microsoft is a SOFTWARE company and their OS's (their bread and butter) crash multiple times daily on my home, work, and school machines. So if they are a software company and can't get that right, why the hell would their hardware be any better?

Chop @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:00PM

Just to add a bit to the stats, I know 9 people right now that have 360's. Of them, 5 were bought day of launch. Of those 5, 4 have been sent back once - one guy had his go back twice due to red rings. These are adult owned (ages 22-32). That said, all 5 returns went smoothly and they came back within a week.

SuperMario21 @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:02PM

One of my friends had his Xbox 360 crash on him...it is seriously just ridiculous. It is the second time too and his warrenty has expired so he has to pay $130 to get it fixed. No gaming system should be this big of a hassle. That is why I stick w/ Nintendo..quality all the way.

bootsielon @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:03PM

Everyone I know with an Xbox 360 has had problems with it. I'm on my third Xbox 360, and on my third HDD; I got the ring of dead twice, the HDDs were crap, and a game I have was scratched by the Xbox (I didn't even move it, and I use wireless controllers). A friend of mine had an Xbox that just wouldn't read games. Another friend of mine had a disc scratcher too. Another friend of mine got fed up with backwards compatibility issues. I never thought that would happen to me, since with all the Sega, Nintendo and Sony consoles I've owned, none had a problem. I thought console failures were urban legends.

Microsoft, the 3 or 4 exclusive games you have next to Sony are worthless next to this. My current 360 still works, but if I get the red ring or any problem after the warranty expires, I'm jumping ship.

And by the way, supposedly the PS2 failure rate was high, but I doubt it was as high as these turds that come from Bill Gates' asshole.